Method of using an improved solder connector



y 14, 9 w. c. WALKER 3,089,223

METHOD OF USING AN IMPROVED SOLDER CONNECTOR Filed Aug. 24, 1959 f/vr /vroe United States Patent O 3,089,223 METHOD OF USING AN IMPROVED SOLDER CONNECTOR Willie Charles Walker, 532 12th Ave, Tuscaloosa, Ala. Filed Aug. 24, 1959, Ser. No. 835,516 1 Claim. (Cl. 29-15555) This invention relates to the joining and splicing of wires by means of a solder connector, and in particular to its use in the repair and maintenance of radio, TV, and electronic devices. Through its use you can quickly clip a wire, test a suspected part and reconnect, all in a minimum of time. The resulting joint requires little heat and can very easily be re-opened and closed at will.

Although the modern technician has at his disposal a battery of professional instruments such as vacuum tube voltrneters, incircuit condenser testers, grid dip oscillators, etc. that help immeasurably in his work, the best way to test a component part still remains to disconnect it from the circuit. But to unsolder a lead where two (2) or more wires go to the same lug is not always an easy task. Compactness and miniaturization make it still worse; besides strain and excessive heat can damage insulation and the parts themselves. This is especially true of the new transistors and printed circuits which require extreme care in soldering.

It is with all this in mind that I devised my own solder connector to overcome these difficulties.

Fashioned from a continuous piece of wire, it is what you might refer to as an improved connector. Said connector being a helix or coil of tinned (solder coated) wire, the free end of which continues outwardly, and finally terminating in an eye. This free end, or pig tail as they are called, aids in the picking up, handling, and positioning on the wires to be connected. After soldering it is clipped off.

To remind the serviceman, a preferred embodiment of the invention would be to paint the pig tail yellow or some other bright color. Sometimes, if inconvenient for the operator to wrap or twist the pig-tail, he might use a small piece of Scotch tape to hold it in position.

The use of the invention is self explanatory.

FIG. 1 shows an enlarged view of my connector 5 positioned on wire 6-6 to be joined. Note part 5 includes helix 7, and pig-tail 8 with eye 9.

FIG. 2 shows lead of suspected capacitor 10 cut.

FIG. 3 shows the connector installed.

FIG. 4. Is is soldered and snipped off.

The connector can be made with two or more turns, in various gages of wire, and for use on all size wires.

If wires to be joined do not meet, simply use a connector with more turns or spread open the coil at its center with two (2) knife edges. On stranded wire it is desirable to tin the ends, or a section thereof, to prevent Patented May 14, 1963 fraying before installing connector. To re-open a joint, apply heat to connector and move coil beyond break. To close: reheat and move back, additional solder or flux being unnecessary.

In some cases it might be desirable to use pliers in clamping my connector on a wire before soldering. However this has the added disadvantage of making the joint more difiicult to disconnect should the need arise.

Since my invention is nothing more than a coil of tinned (solder coated) wire closely surrounding a wire, it provides an usually large area of contact resulting in an electrical connection that is good and strong both mechanically and electrically. As it is so small and inconspicuous it requires only the very least amount of heat (smallest of soldering irons) thus lending itself admirably to all electronic work. The fact that the joint can be reopened or closed any reasonable number of times with only the addition of heat is a distinct advantage.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

The method of using an improved solder connector of solid tinned bendable wire having a helical wound coil of uniform diameter with spaced turns and a free end, designated as a pig-tail, which continues outwardly from one endmost turn and terminates in an eye, for joining and splicing a wire by soldering the coil over the break in the wire, and embracing the selection of a short connector requiring minimal heat both in soldering on and thence moving along a wire, comprising the follow ing steps: first, the correct selection of coil connector for the wire to be joined having a minimum number of turns, thence the steps of inserting and positioning of this connector directly over the break in said wire using the pigtail as a handle including the twisting and wrapping of said pig-tail about the most convenient point, followed by the soldering of said connector on said wire, and finally, the steps of clipping and removing of said pigtail at a point near the coil so the tiny extension left thereon can be contacted easily, and grippingly if desired, in the event this connection had to be re-opened.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 294,549 Waring Mar. 4, 1884 2,656,204 Blomstrand Oct. 20, 1953 2,664,844 Siegrist et al. Jan. 5, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 202,760 Great Britain Aug. 30, 1923 OTHER REFERENCES Publication 1, Field-Shop Service Notes, published in Service, February 1958 (page 34 relied on). 

